“He requires ten bouts in the coming year. However, that is unrealistic… I am uncertain if Moses will recover,” Algieri remarked to Inside Boxing. “Stamina is something you can improve. The mental state is the real issue. He was psychologically broken by another fighter… Healing from that will take quite some time.”
This is an incredibly harsh assessment. The upcoming displays from Itauma will offer a clearer picture of his self-belief than any analysis made in the immediate aftermath of his defeat. Nevertheless, Algieri’s recommendation for a traditional, slow-paced reconstruction highlights a critical element overlooked in the hurried pursuit of a heavyweight crown: high-quality, competitive experience in the ring.
In 1950, Sugar Ray Robinson competed 19 times, which included entering the ring four times in December alone. While Algieri is pointing back to a period defined by relentless schedules, replicating even a fraction of that frequency would demand a major shift in how Queensberry promotes Itauma. Robinson’s history of bouts
Stepping into the ring ten times equates to boxing approximately once every five weeks for an entire year. Frank Warren would have to secure ten positions on various events, which does not necessarily demand ten unique broadcast dates. Utilizing preliminary bouts and minor events could serve as a viable path, as long as Itauma is not expected to top the bill on every occasion.
Maintaining his physical well-being under such a grueling schedule presents a major obstacle. Training camps, competitive matches, and physical recuperation would overlap almost endlessly. A minor laceration or a hand injury could derail multiple scheduled fights, while the constant cycle of preparing for new challengers would drastically reduce the time available to fix the technical flaws that Hrgovic laid bare.
Prior to his recent setback, Itauma had never gone past the sixth round in his career. Scoring an early knockdown tempted him to push for a rapid stoppage, a decision that proved expensive once Hrgovic weathered the storm and kept coming forward.
Fatigue does not necessarily mean a fighter is out of shape. Unleashing consecutive waves of heavy power shots, retreating, and then loading up once more provides almost no chance to catch one’s breath. Simply increasing roadwork will not resolve the tactical choices that caused Itauma to drain his stamina so quickly. Learning to pace his offensive output would enable him to seek a stoppage without depleting all his reserves on every single blow.
Navigating through those difficult moments demands an entirely different set of technical abilities.
Initiating a well-placed clinch can halt a rival’s momentum and secure a brief moment of rest. Maintaining proper balance behind a tight defensive guard allows an exhausted boxer to shield himself without needing to constantly rely on footwork. These defensive instincts must remain intact under intense pressure, a scenario his rapid early victories seldom forced him to experience.
It is highly probable that Queensberry will opt for more manageable opponents following such a bruising loss. Fast knockout wins would facilitate a highly active schedule, whereas testing matches lasting eight or ten rounds would provide far superior developmental benefits, even if they require longer periods of recuperation.
The ideal opponent would be a durable veteran capable of defending well, maintaining a consistent tempo, and forcing Itauma to adapt when his initial onslaught fails to end the fight. Even this matchmaking strategy involves danger, as no resilient heavyweight is guaranteed to merely test a prospect without posing a threat of their own.
Potential future matchups with Fabio Wardley, Joseph Parker, Daniel Dubois, Frank Sanchez, and Agit Kabayel represent significant challenges for the future. For now, pursuing an immediate second bout with Hrgovic would be highly ill-advised.
True confidence must be built on something more stable than the assumption that every opponent will go down easily. Itauma must realize that if a rival withstands his power, his response should not simply be to throw with greater velocity or force. Successfully managing a round and starting the subsequent frame with sufficient reserves would represent a major step forward.
The specific quantity of bouts suggested by Algieri is less important than the underlying need for growth. The ultimate benefit of these matches depends entirely on the lessons Itauma extracts from them. Facing a line of opponents who fold before the third round would offer very little in the way of progress.
